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specialists in enhancement and management of human performance |
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This is a practical exercise to help you get new results in your work, or life. It begins with an assessment of what needs attention (something you may be neglecting or want to improve), breaking that down into specific projects, creating a quick action plan for each, and the follow-through. The smartest, most accomplished people we know have areas they aren't attending to, and have difficulty getting started on. Our clients have used this process with great success, Plus, we have used it within Allies, and in our personal lives. The following process is a natural one: you've used it in those areas of life or business where you have enjoyed great success. It's in the areas that have not yielded great results yet that this simple exercise could spawn new outcomes. We recommend you look both at your work (or business) for elements to work on, and in your personal life, as well. In your personal life, consider such broad elements as these: your environs (community, home, office and car), your primary relationship (with a spouse or "significant other"), your social world (friends, family, and community relationships), fun and recreation, health and well-being, personal and spiritual growth, how you manage your personal finances, and your work or business (overall). With regards to your business, consider these broad elements: sales and marketing, production (of the product or service you actually sell), cash-flow management, innovation (including long-term planning and tracking of trends and forces that will impact the future of your business), daily operational management (delegation, managing resources, decision making, etc.), administration (can include reception, bookkeeping, and other mundane tasks), impeccability (covers legal and regulatory matters, and completeness of all dealings), and quality of relationships (with employees, vendors and customers). You may decide to break down your specific job duties into broad elements, as we have done here. For each element, assign a value, from zero to ten, to rate how well each element is working for you, or how satisfied you are with your progress towards your ideal in these arenas. A "zero" means you have lots of room for improvement, a "ten" is perfection--one could not imagine it being any better. Note that the elements that receive significantly low ratings are areas you probably neglect and are probably not comfortable dealing with. Yet if these were working as well for you as the elements you do well with, your business (or life) would naturally thrive at new levels! Choose one element of life and an element of business that is especially low, that if it were working well for you, you would be happy about. Look for something that would qualitatively shift your life. Also, select an element of business that you've wanted to change, a procrastinated project perhaps, that would substantially affect the health, direction or opportunities for your company. With each of these three elements, break them into three significant projects. For example, if you were to choose Marketing, you might decide to collect data on your clientele's needs and purchasing habits, update your marketing plan, and research marketing resources you could utilize. If you were to address your health, you might get a thorough physical, research the best fitness programs and personal trainers, and educate yourself on a more healthful diet. Now, for each of these three projects, determine three action steps you will take that will significantly move these projects towards a successful conclusion. These steps could be to make five calls a day, spend one evening per week on your project, have a report compiled, meet with a respected consultant, join a gym, and so forth. The tasks could be a one-time action, a regular activity to start, or a task that might take many hours over several weeks to complete. These tasks should be manageable chunks that can be realistically achieved, and substantial enough that they either guarantee success of your project or at least generate momentum. If these tasks are too small, they won't generate momentum: simply looking up the phone number of a gym won't be enough to change your habits or guarantee you'll get in shape. If the task is too large (or in some other way unrealistic), failure is likely: if you plan to exercise for 90 minutes every day, and you haven't exercised at all in years, it's a safe bet you'll quit before the end of the week, never achieving increased fitness. Set dates to your tasks. If it is a single activity or a complete-able task, set a "drop dead" date. Calendar the days and times. Make certain all the necessary resources, support, et cetera, are in place to assure the task is completed. If you plan to make twenty calls each day, have the numbers you'll need ready to go, and make sure you'll be uninterrupted. If you delegate a task to a subordinate, make certain they have your full support and the means to complete the task. The following chart is an example of how a sales team might use this exercise:
Make these tasks a priority. Allow nothing to stand in the way of getting the results. Having a committed partner to be accountable to can help. A coach will hold your feet to the fire, rigorously, dispassionately, and with compassion. You have not given attention to this area of your business or life for months (or years): you could benefit from additional support to develop the inertia to achieve new results. Pay close attention to what actions lead to any progress, then acknowledge and celebrate any success. At work, acknowledge your staff for their support and let them share in the excitement. The focus on the goal and the passion for the results will become infectious, and when you ask for the next task to be done, you'll find increased willingness to stretch for the goal. You could be unstoppable!
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POBox 9635